Classic Physique Building Champ Melvin Wells - the "Buffalo Hercules"!

(Photo Above: CPB Champ Melvin Wells - Mr. New York State 1949)

Another pre-roid, Golden Age champ who is not well known is Melvin Wells. He was born 1919 and died 1994. He was from Buffalo, New York and was known as the “Buffalo Hercules” in honour of his hometown.

Melvin was Mr. New York State 1949 and won the “Most Muscular” title in the Mr. America competition of that year. He also placed 2nd (behind Jack Delinger) in the Mr. America 1950 contest and was Mr. Strength and Health 1951.

Perhaps the most inspirational thing about Melvin Wells is that he did not begin training in the most modern or optimal facilities. He built his classic physique through pure determination and made the best out of his situation. When he began, he actually trained with large rocks in an unheated garage!

This should motivate people who, for example, cannot afford a gym membership or are training at home. You don’t have to use the best equipment etc. The best or optimal gift you have is not your “good” genes for building a muscular body. You don’t have to have any forefathers who were strongman, wrestlers etc. The most irreplaceable gift you have is your health and determination.

That may sound odd, but does it not all start with health and determination? Because with these, you can make the best out of your situation – even if you must start training at home with large rocks!

- Ibrahim, CPB Contributor

P.S. If you would like a free, 1 year subscription to Classic Physique Builder (CPBzine) - a pdf zine patterned on the muscle mags of the pre-roid Golden Age (of the 1940s and 50s), just email your name, the name of your city (not your address), state/province, and country to cpbzine@gmail.com. That's it! Any info you send us is strictly confidential. We do not share our info with anyone. You will not get on any unwanted lists or receive automated junk email (even from us!).

Classic Physique Champ Marvin Eder Interview!

(Above photo: Classic Physique Builder Marvin Eder - Mr. New York City, 1949; Mr Eastern America 1950)

One of our readers (Ibrahim) found a great interview with CPB Champ Marvin Eder at the following site: http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/drobson304.htm. This is a great interview (conducted by David Robson) and gives you a glimpse of the Golden Age from Marvin's perspective.

Among the notable highlights of the interview, Marvin states that he also followed the 3 meal-a-day plan (and did not eat great quantities of food), took no steroids or even supplements, and trained heavy following a split system. He was one of the Golden Age champs who was also interested in Olympic style weightlifting and was known for his exceptional strength. Now, at age 75, he still does 500 crunches every morning! The interview is also notable for his clear disgust with steroids and what they have done to mainstream bodybuilding.

Thanks again to Ibrahim, and to all our readers who make valuable contributions to CPB Blog through their comments and info!

Enjoy the interview!

- CPB

Classic Physique Champion - Clancy Ross!

Meet Classic Physique Champion Clancy Ross (photo above) - Mr. America 1945, Mr. Pro America 1946, Mr. USA 1948. Clancy was known as "King of the Bodybuilders" back in the Golden Age (the 1940s and 50s). He was born in 1923 and passed away this year at the age of 85.

There are many good things we could say about Clancy. In addition to being a champion, he owned his own gym and wrote articles for Joe Weider's Your Physique, Muscle Power, and Muscle Builder mags. He competed against the likes of Alan Stephan, George Eiferman, and Steve Reeves and was one of the few to beat Steve Reeves in a contest.

Just look at his classic physique! It is powerful, muscular, symmetrical, and yet attractive. There is no hint of over-development or extreme definition. He is in no way fat. He has muscular definition, yet he doesn't look like an "airbrush-tanned, dissecting-room cadaver". Instead, his skin and entire physique has a healthy glow! His physique is reminescent of a classical Greek god! It is in no way "cartoonish." He is a great role model for aspiring, classic physique builders of today!

Now take a second look at his incredible physique and realize that at the time of this photo, modern nutritional supplements (like creatine, NO and testosterone boosters, pump enhancers, anabolic agents, fat burners, etc) did not exist! Even protein powders did not exist at that time. The first protein powders for bodybuilders didn't appear until 1950-51! All they had, up until that time, was proper training, proper nutrition, and proper rest. How's that for an "eye-opener?"

There is something else you can see in the photo. He is pictured holding a classical Greek column. This shows you that the classical ideal was clearly valued in the Golden Age. It was a healthy ideal which inspired the Golden Age and one which can still inspire us today! - CPB

Introducing Classic Physique Champion - George Eiferman Mr America 1948

Check out our new video clip of George Eiferman. George was Mr. Philadelphia 1947. That year, he also competed in the Mr. America contest against Steve Reeves and came in fifth (Steve won). In 1948, he captured the Mr. America title. The following year, he appeared in a movie called "The Devil's Sleep" and played the part of a gym instructor (see our clip). In 1954, George toured with Mae West as part of a group of musclemen in her nightclub act. In 1962 (the twilight of the Golden Age of Natural Bodybuilding), he won the IFBB Mr. Universe title. He appeared on the cover of many issues of the muscle magazines during the Golden Age of Natural Bodybuilding.

George had a reputation of being a true gentlemen and a great proponent of natural bodybuilding. He once toured the country by car stopping at high schools to promote healthy living and exercise. George passed away at the age of 76 on Feb. 12, 2002. Although he is not posing in our videoclip, you can still tell what a tremendous, classic physique he had. He is still an inspiration to us all!